Obituary – Mary Ann Blessing
Saturday, February 14, 2026

Mary Ann Blessing, age 67, went home to be with the Lord on February 12, 2026, in Bristol, Tennessee. Born in Rockville, Maryland, Mary Ann lived a life marked by unwavering faith, quiet strength, and tireless service to others.
Mary Ann was married for 43 years to her devoted husband, Herschel Blessing, with whom she built a life centered on faith and family. Together, they raised a family grounded in faith and love.
She was a beloved mother and grandmother, known for loving people deeply and serving them faithfully. Mary Ann is survived by her sons Greg (wife Shana) and Ben (wife Lydia), and her daughter MaryBeth (husband Lucas). She was a proud grandmother to Alex, Avery, Anderson, Aniston, Aiden, Annabelle, Addilyn, and Eleanor, each of whom brought her immense joy.
Mary Ann is also survived by her brothers Henry (preceded in death by sister in law Jeanie), Jim and sister in law April, John and sister in law Joan, Joe and sister in law Cindy, and Jeff and sister in law Terri, all of whom shared in a close family bond rooted in love and faith. She was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Mary Gregory.
For more than 40 years, Mary Ann devoted her life to serving others through ministry and her work for Kingsway Charities. The global impact Kingsway Charities has made is outstanding. Since 2000, the ministry has distributed over $4.1 billion in medications and medical supplies worldwide. In 2025, the ministry distributed over $483 million in medications and medical supplies, 374 relief trips, 24 international containers, and inspired 2,834 volunteer hours. But if you knew Mary Ann you would know that the statistic she was most proud of was the 22,710 individuals decisions made for Christ. She was on fire for God and it showed in her family and work.
She was a prayer warrior, a quiet servant, and a behind-the-scenes leader who never sought recognition but faithfully answered God’s call. She organized, encouraged, listened, prayed, and showed up, again and again, for people in need. To know Mary Ann was to experience compassion, steadiness, and Christlike love in action. She truly never met a stranger.
Mary Ann’s legacy is not only found in the ministries she led or the lives she touched, but in the faith she lived out daily, faith that shaped her family, strengthened her community, and pointed countless people toward hope.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Monday, February 16th, 2026, at 134 Commerce Court, Bristol, Virginia, with family visitation from 3:00–4:00 p.m., followed by a time of fellowship and visitation with the family from 4:00–6:00 p.m. The service will begin at 6:00 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Kingsway Charities, honoring Mary Ann’s lifelong commitment to ministry and service.
While she will be deeply missed, her family rejoices in the assurance that she is now fully healed, fully whole, and in the presence of the Lord she loved and served so faithfully.
More Stories |
-
Mary Ann Blessing, age 67, went home to be with the Lord on February 12, 2026, in Bristol, Tennessee. Born in Rockville, Maryland, Mary Ann lived a life marked by unwavering faith, quiet strength, and tireless service to others.
Read More
-
FRANKLIN, Tenn. – United States Department of Agriculture Deputy Administrator Bernadette Juarez was in attendancee at the annual Walking Horse Trainers’ Association meeting as part of their convention and annual Horse of the Year banquet.
Read More
-
Read More
-
FRANKLIN, Tenn. — The Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association (TWHBEA), in partnership with the Walking Horse Trainers’ Association (WHTA), will host a meeting for Tennessee Walking Horse show managers on Saturday, February 14, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Read More
-
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — A portrait of the reigning World Grand Champion Tennessee Walking Horse, JUSTIFIED HONORS, was recently presented to Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture Andy Holt at the Ellington Agricultural Center in Nashville, home of the Tennessee Department of Agriculture.
Read More
-
The Tennessee Walking Horse National Celebration is pleased to release a proposed class sheet for the 88th Celebration and invites feedback from the industry. The proposed changes are designed to increase participation, improve class efficiency, and create additional opportunities across multiple divisions.
Read More
-
The Spring Extravaganza, scheduled for May 8–9, 2026, at the Bedford County Ag Center, has announced that Amy Trimble will serve as judge for the event.
Read More
-
The SHOW HIO will once again require horse and exhibitor cards for the upcoming 2026 show season. This will be the third year of the program, which is administered by the Tennessee Walking Horse Breeders’ & Exhibitors’ Association.
Read More
-
Glenda Susan Nichols, age 71 of Ozark, beloved wife, mother, sister, and friend to many, passed away surrounded by love on February 9, 2026.
Read More
-
Dr. Clifford Louis Garrard, Jr., age 89, died peacefully in his sleep Thursday, February 5, 2026, at The Carriage House Assisted Living in Shelbyville, Tennessee.
Read More
|